6 juin 2017

Vidéo : 6 juin 1967, 2e jour de la guerre

Israel had succeeded in destroying two thirds of the Egyptian air
force just the day before. Now, on June 6, the Israeli Defense Force
engaged Egyptian tanks and troops in the Sinai.

In another
remarkable feat, Israel defeated Egypt in the desert, despite being
outnumbered three-to-one. Egypt, seeing the extent of their loss,
retreated, leaving the Sinai Peninsula in Israel’s hands. By noon the
next day, Israel would control the port at Sharm El-Sheikh, reopening
the sea lanes Egypt had blocked just two weeks before.

Meanwhile,
Israeli troops were positioned on the strategic mountaintop of Mount
Scopus in Jerusalem, overlooking the historic Old City. Though Israel
could have pounded Jordanian troops with artillery, it refrained in
order to preserve the city which held such significance for the Jewish
people.

In an emergency
session at the United Nations in New York, Israel’s Foreign Minister
Abba Eban held Egypt to task for its aggression against Israel, also
heralding the great success Israel had so far in resisting that
aggression.

In Israel, Prime
Minister Levi Eshkol turned to the Soviets for assistance in securing
peace. Yet the Soviets remained cold to Israel’s request, issuing a
demand that Israel “ immediately and unconditionally ” halt all military
operations.

This was a path Israel could not afford to take. The war would continue.